Concealable running board luggage carrier



March 15, 1932. M. REINGOLD CONCEALABLE RUNNING BOARD LUGGAGE CARRIERFiled Aug. 12, 1930 ATTOR N EYS Patented Mar. 15, 1932 UNITED STATESPATE NT OFFICE OONCEALABLE annulus BOARD" LUGGAGE CARRIER Applicationfiled August 12, 1930, Serial No. 474,818.

The invention relates to a luggage carrier 7 which may be usedadvantageously in conjunction with the running boards or similar partsof automobiles.

The invention contemplates a luggage carrier of the indicated characterwhich will be permanently applied to a running board or the likeplatform, so as to be conveniently accessible at all times, and whichmay be readily set up for use, and which when not in use may be safelyconcealed from View ready for use whenever the occasion arises.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides inthe combination, construction and functions of the parts hereinafterdescribed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure1 is a perspective view illustrating the device applied to anautomobile, a portion of which is shown;

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure l but showing the device ready foruse; t

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-8 of Figure 1, the carrier framebeing shown in the concealed position in relation to the running board;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the carrier framedrawn out;

Figure 5 is an enlarged section on the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective sectional view showing certainfeatures of the device.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be apparentthat there is shown by way of example a portion of an automobile 10, andone of its running boards 11. A plate 12 substantially equal in lengthand width to the running board 11 is secured in place in any suitablemanner underneath the running board in spaced relation with respectthereto, andsaid plate along its ends and one side or longitudinal edgebeing provided with upstanding flanges 13 which contact with the undersurface of the running board 11. I t will therefore be apparent that therunning board 11 together with the plate 12 constitute a housing havingan opening it located along the outside of the running board 11. Aluggage carrier retaining frame 15 is permanently connected in relationto the running board 11 so as to be moved from a concealed position inthe housing to an upstanding position along the outer longitudinal edgeof the running board, constituting a luggage carrier in conjunction withthe running board 11, and adjoining parts of the automobile; The frame15 is substantially of rectangular formation'in the present instance andconsists of longitudinal members connected together by transversemembers, all of which are made preferably of strips of metal. The frame15 may be of any preferredlength and in the present instance is equal tothe length of the running board 11.

For permanently connecting the frame 15 in relation to the running board11 so that it may be moved to the positionme-ntioned hereinabove, thereis provided means presently to be described which may be diverselyformulated. The said means includes linkage at each end of the runningboard consisting of pairs of link members 16 and 17 pivotally connectedtogether, as at 18, the link member 16 being pivotally connected, as at19, with the plate 12, and thelink member 17'beingpivotally connectedwith a hinge 20 on the related lower edge end of the frame 15. Theprovision of the link members 16 and 17 at each end of with the hingedconnection 20 makes it possible to move the frame 15 into the housingprovided by the running board 11 and the plate 12 through the opening14:, as shown in Fig ure 3, and also makes it possible to move the frame15 exteriorly of the constituted housing to a position in which it willbe disposed substantially perpendicular to the running board 11 with thelower edge of the frame at the outer edgeof the running board, as shownin'gFigures 2 and 5. The link members '16 and 17 rest on the plate 12 sothat. the frame 15 will be firmly supported in the per pendicularupstanding position.

Any practicalmeansmay beprovided for releasably retaining the frame 15in its up standing position. In the present instance, the plate 12 isprovided with a longitudinal slot 21. along the. outerv edgethereof,which may be formed in the plate 12 or which may the frame 15 togetherbe formed by applying a strip of metal 22 along the outer edge of theplate 12, as shown in the present instance. Brace members 23 in the formof metal bars are each pivotally connected at one end with the frame 15as at 24, and the lower end thereof is receivable in the slot 21, infrictional engagement with the adjacent faces of the plate 12 and thestrip 22. These members 23 may be swung on their pivots into the slot 21to releasably retain the frame 15 in the upstanding position, or may beswung out of the slot 21 in order that the frame 15 may be moved throughthe opening 14 into the housing constituted or formed by the runningboard 11 and the plate- 12. When the members 23 are released, the frame15 may be swung from the vertical to the horizontal position, whereuponit may be pushed into the housing, and the members 16 and 17'ncidentally moving on their pivotal connections.

In order to close the opening 14 when the frame 15 is moved into theconstituted housing, there is provided a closure member 25 hingedlyconnected along one edge, as at 26,

with the outer side edge of the running board 11. The closure member 25may be swung to an upstanding position when the frame 15 is to be movedand held in the upstanding position, as shown in Figure 5. The closuremember 25 serves to fully close the opening 1 1 to exclude dust anddirt.

' It is to be understood that the invention is notrestricted to theprecise arrangement of parts shown and described, as details ofconstruction may be modified and rearranged without departing from thespirit of the invention, the scope of which is limited only by the termsof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1 The combination of a vehicle running board, a plate secured to theunderside of the running board in spaced relation and presenting a sideopening, a linkage pivotally connected with and resting on said plate, acarrier frame pivotally connected with said linkage, whereby said framemay be moved into position between the running board and plate throughsaid opening and from the said position to a position substantiallyperpendicular to the running board with the lower edge abutting thelatter, and means to retain the frame in the second mentioned'position,

2. The combination of a vehicle running board, a luggage retaining frameconnected in relation to the running ment from a position beneath therunning board to an upstanding position in relation to the outer edge ofthe running board, and means to releasably retain the frame in theupstanding position, said means consisting of brace members carried bysaid frame, and a slotted section connected with the running board toreceive the lower ends of said brace members respectively.

board for movev 3. The combination of a vehicle running board, a platesecured to the underside of the running board in spaced relation andpresenting a side opening, a carrier frame, pivotally connected linkmembers pivotally connected with and resting on said plate for each endof said carrier frame, means pivot ally connecting the lower edge ofsaid carrier frame at each end with the related link members, wherebysaid frame may be moved into position between the running board andplate through said opening and fromthe said position to a positionsubstantially perpendicular to the running board with the lower edgeabutting the latter, and means to retain the frame in thesecond'mentioned position.

4. The combination of a vehicle running board, a plate secured to theunderside of the running board in spaced relation and presenting a sideopening,'a linkage pivotally connected with said plate, a carrier framepivotally connected with said linkage, whereby said frame may be movedinto position between the running board and plate through said openingand from the said position to a position substantially perpendicular tothe running board with the lower edge abutting the latter, and means toretain the frame in the second mentioned position, said last meansconsisting of brace members carried by said frame and slotted sectionsembodied in said plate to receive the lower, ends of said brace membersrespectively.

Signed at NewYork, in the county of New York and State of New York, thisllth'day of August A. D. 1930. i

MEYER REINGOLD.

